Humphrey's Peak Climb

My husband's annual hike to the highest point in Arizona (12,633 ft.) had dwindled this year from 5 to 2 hikers, but both Rich and Peter made it to the top and back down again on Saturday, June 30. It was a 10-hour round trip, taking just as long coming down as it did going up. The weather can be quite changeable up there, but this time it was nice and sunny although windy near the top as usual. There is an interesting story to tell about this particular hike. A couple of weeks earlier, a group of intercessors from Arizona Call to Prayer and Bridge Builders had joined together to climb Humphreys Peak. At the summit, this group lifted the banner of the Lord and prayed over the state. They also erected a 7’ wooden cross on top of the peak, which they had carried up from the timberline. Later, the prayer team heard that someone had knocked down the cross and they were planning on sending a person from their group to raise it again on another day. In the meantime, Rich and Peter arrived and discovered the cross lying on the ground near the summit so they put it up. Rich e-mailed the organization to let them know, and the leader was very grateful. Perhaps this will start a new tradition of Christian climbers raising the cross on the mountain! (Click here to see pictures and a full report of the first cross-raising.) See below for pictures of the ascent up Humphrey’s Peak:

Humphrey 1.jpg – The San Francisco Peaks used to be one giant volcano that blew its top. You can imagine how high it once was by following the sides up until they meet at a point. Scientists estimate the original height was 16,000 ft.

Humphrey 2.jpg – Trail through the alpine forest.

Humphrey 3.jpg – Pine trees and tundra.

Humphrey 4.jpg – The trail is getting higher.

Humphrey 5.jpg – View of the San Francisco cinder cone field.

Humphrey 6.jpg – Ridge line facing Mt. Agassiz.

Humphrey 7.jpg – Approaching the summit.

Humphrey 8.jpg – Fallen cross.

Humphrey 9.jpg – Putting the cross back up.

DAISY MOUNTAIN HIKE ~ April 7, 2007

This trail on the west side of Daisy Mountain apparently had been there long before the master-planned community of Anthem was built, because the Boy Scouts all knew about it. In fact, a friend of ours who is a Boy Scout led the way for us. He had gone up and down the mountain several times as training for a Grand Canyon hike. My husband was taking this opportunity to start getting in shape for climbing Humphrey’s Peak. I just wanted to see what the view was like.

It was 68° when we left our house. At about 8:47am we met in the Anthem Walgreens parking lot and at 9:00am we started walking. We had to cross the street and go into a gated community (closed to cars but with an opening for pedestrians). It was tiring just walking through the neighborhood streets because the development was built on a slope so it was all uphill. We passed a golf course and turned up a road past a cluster of mailboxes. I don’t remember any of the street names and all of the houses look the same.

By the time we reached the back edge of the neighborhood where it meets the mountain, we had already gained considerable altitude. From there it was a steep climb on the path up the mountain. Actually, we didn’t even make it to Daisy Mountain itself as we thought we would. The trail continued on in that direction along the ridge, but when we got to the top of whatever side peak this was, we decided to turn around. Even though this was a terrible year for wildflowers, we still managed to see a few and the ocotillos were blooming quite nicely.

This trail was a lot steeper, for a longer distance, than last week’s hike. I thought my legs were going to be sore for a week after this one, but by the next day they were fine. Our youngest son just turned 7 and one minute he would be whining and asking to be carried. The next minute he would be running up ahead with the older kids. So I guess he couldn’t have been too tired – just wanted a free ride! The walk back down the mountain didn’t seem to take nearly as long as the hike up (as is usually the case, thank goodness!). But trudging once again through the endless maze of neighborhood streets seemed to take forever. By this time we were really hot, tired, and thirsty. When we finally got back to the car at 1:00pm, the temperature was 87°.

INDIAN RUIN HIKE ~ March 31, 2007

We managed to squeeze in one more archaeology field trip this month! We went hiking with some friends from our homeschool group up to a peak that we call Triangle Mountain, also known to archaeologists as T:4:8. It’s located in the Tonto National Forest near New River. We were on top of the peak looking at the ruins when this guy came up shortly afterward. We got talking and mentioned that we are members of Desert Hills Christian Homeschoolers, and he said that his fiancée was homeschooled. Then when he mentioned the name I said oh, I know her! It’s a small world!

Humphrey's Peak Hike ~ July 29, 2006

My husband likes to hike Humphrey’s Peak at least once a year, either with our boys or with a couple of friends. I’ve never attempted it myself. Here is what Rich had to say about this trek:

"The sky was overcast all day. It was windy and cold above the timber line. The clouds kept being blown down on the ridge, sometimes limiting visibility to 100 feet or so. I made it to the top, but the hike taxed my strength far beyond what I thought possible. Also it threatened rain all day but it waited until we got back down to the car, then it broke with fury. Praise God, who made all things, and cares for us in ways both great and small."

Take a virtual tour! Each of the following photos will open in a new window. Be sure to watch the cool video that Rich took near the top!

Hart's Prairie
The Goal
Wet Leaf Litter
Butterfly on Daisy
Alpine Forest
Humphrey's Peak in Cloud
The Last Tree
Where's the Peak
The Other Side
Alpine Tundra
The Peak
Local Resident
View From the Top
Hart's Prairie Return
Movie taken at 12,000 ft. - Turn on the sound!
*Large File will need ~20 minute download time for dial-up.

Lava Cave Hike ~ June 10, 2006

This impressive lava tube is located in the Coconino National Forest northwest of Flagstaff. From U.S. Highway 180, take Forest Road 245 west for about three miles, then go south for roughly 1 ½ miles on Forest Road 171, and turn left on FR 171B. This cave was formed within a few hours when an ancient volcano erupted. The cave is almost ¾ of a mile long and never gets above 45 degrees F. In some spots the cave is only about 3 feet high, while in others the ceiling is 30 feet high and shaped like a subway tunnel. There is no admission charge, no tour guides, and no facilities. You’re on your own but there is only one way in and out. Small children will need help scrambling down the boulder pile at the entrance.

Take a virtual tour! Each of the following photos will open in a new window:

Lava River Cave Sign *
(*Oversized so you can read the words and view the map.)
Cave Entrance
Our Group Heading into Cave
Descending Down
Going Down, Watch Your Step!
Interior of Cave
View Down the Tunnel
Walking Inside the Tube
Walking Along on Hardened Lava
Our Group at Spot with High Ceiling
Looking Around Inside Cave
Climbing Out
Back at the Surface